The same night Stan Musial died in St. Louis, an old friend died near Donora.Veronica Duda, 98, was the strong and talented widow of Dr. Michael Duda, Musial’s mentor at Donora High, now long amalgamated into a district school.The Dudas, young and childless at the time, took to the shy athletic kid from one of the poorest families in the mill town. Musial had the slightest bit of a stutter from being made to write right-handed, as was the fashion back then. Musial was not a scholar, but he could play basketball and baseball. Michael Duda, known as Ki (he used to portray the Kaiser of Germany in childhood games), started a high-school team, partially to give the boy a chance to play spring baseball. Verne Duda was a trained violinist who had cut back on her performing to follow her academic husband a few miles from Latrobe to Donora. Teachers were treated with great respect in this community of newly-arrived ethnics. As hard as Donora was, people looked after each other.Musial had an instinct for finding role models – a man with an auto dealership who taught Musial how to carry himself; the basketball coach who taught them citizenship; a mill worker who ran the town baseball team and one day let the skinny batboy pitch. On Halloween evening in 1948, when Musial was already a star in St. Louis, Verne Duda was a queen of the parade, right down the busy main street of Donora. She noticed the normal bad air was getting worse but continued to toss apples and candy to the crowd – until news came that people were falling, and dying. It was the start of the Donora Smog that killed 18 people right away, not counting Lukasz Musial, who was taken to St. Louis, where he died in late December.Michael Duda became the president of the state college branch at nearby California, Pa. He was beloved, and died way too young. Verne remained friendly with Musial’s mother Mary -- went with her to Hollywood when Stan was honored on “This Is Your Life.”I caught up with Mrs. Duda a few years ago in a retirement apartment on campus. She was in a wheelchair and her eyesight was going, and she had misplaced some documents about her husband and their prize protégé. She did not lack for opinions, but her main one was pride in the boy from town who made his way in the world.

My hope is that the attention properly paid to Stan Musial's life and success in this, our last collective opportunity to think about him, is appreciated as the kernel of hope in the fairly tail of life. Baseball, like boxing, gave a few the opportunity to leave the mines, mills and city slums, and the choking in air in all these places. The players and their stories made baseball great. Musial may be exhibit A. I suspect he's rather be the model than the exception.

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George Vecsey

1/28/2013 02:40:35 am

Brian, you make a good point. The way out for poor kids is hardly a justification for all the sleaze and weirdness of big time sports, but it is a point. I forgot to mention the librarian (Stash rarely visited the library) who urged him to follow his heart to baseball rather than college or the mill.
He never forgot Donora (although some thought he could have done more; very normal.) Charles Stacey, the former superintendent in Donora, recalled the other day how Musial left tickets for the entire school baseball team when the Cards played in Forbes Field one year. Musial would underwrite reunions -- and show up with wads of cash in his pocket. He never forgot Donora, and the people who were kind to a poor kid. GV

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Although Stan was fortunate to have mentors and helping hands along the way, he had the good instinct to listen. He also developed the character to be sensitive to others needs and to give back to society.

Athletics is only one avenue for any youngster in need of guidance and encouragement. All that is needed is someone who is caring and willing to make the effort.

My daughter had a high school track coach who changed her life by building up her self-image. My friend’s 10 year old grandson has an attention disability, but he is the best player on a winless hockey team. When encouraged by parents to drop to a lower level league so they could win some games, they voted no. They enjoyed what they were doing and wanted the challenge. When it comes to youth athletics, more kids should say no to their parents.

Over the years I have worked with underprivileged kids on many levels. It works best when you help them to do their own thing and just be there for support. I’m not in favor of big, all-encompassing programs that seem to only satisfy the adults or administrators.

Most people will not be as talented as Stan, but every youngster should have the opportunity to be the best that they can and develop a pride of accomplishment.

Reply

George Vecsey

1/28/2013 08:08:02 am

Alan, you are back? You are absolutely right, Musial had an amazing sense of seeking mentors and learning from them. GV

Reply

Ed Martin

1/28/2013 09:52:35 am

On this theme. Joe Namath, another western PA. Athlete got in some trouble in downtown Tuscaloosa, perhaps beer was involved. In any event Bear Bryant sat him down for the Auburn game, the last game of the season and the biggest rival. Bama squeaked out a win. They were invited to the Sugar Bowl. Much to everyone's surprise, Bryant benched Namath for that game too. Bama won on four field goals, 12-7. Namath told me later it was the first time anyone had ever really stood up to him and it made a difference in his life. He has had his struggles, but is looking pretty good now.

The Dudas, young and childless at the time, took to the shy athletic kid from one of the poorest families in the mill town. Musial had the slightest bit of a stutter from being made to write right-handed, as was the fashion back then. Musial was not a scholar, but he could play basketball and baseball. Michael Duda

The Dudas, young and childless at the time, took to the shy athletic kid from one of the poorest families in the mill town. Musial had the slightest bit of a stutter from being made to write right-handed, as was the fashion back then.

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